Biodiversity for Business

Transcription

1 Biodiversity for Business A guide to using knowledge products delivered through IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature

2 Biodiversity for Business A guide to using knowledge products delivered through IUCN

3 The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN and WBCSD concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN and WBCSD. This publication has been made possible by funding from the WBCSD, the IUCN Business and Biodiversity Programme, and the IUCN Biodiversity Conservation Group. This Report has been coordinated and compiled by Diego Juffe-Bignoli (IUCN) with support from Giulia Carbone (IUCN), Violaine Berger (WBCSD), Jane Smart (IUCN), and Tom Brooks (IUCN). Published by: Copyright: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland 2014 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: IUCN (2014). Biodiversity for Business: A guide to using knowledge products delivered through IUCN. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 48pp. ISBN: Reading & corrections: Layout by: Printed by: Available from: Christopher Tribe Chadi Abi Faraj - Solprint - Mijas - Malaga (Spain) IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Global Business and Biodiversity Programme Rue Mauverney Gland Switzerland Tel Fax biobiz@iucn.org The text of this book is printed on 130gsm CyclusPrint FSC recycled certified paper.

4 Table of Contents Acknowledgements... vi Executive summary... vii Part 1 - The knowledge products Introduction TM 1.2. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Protected Planet (powered by the World Database on Protected Areas) Key Biodiversity Areas The Red List of Ecosystems Tools to support access to and use of the knowledge products Part 2 - How have companies been using these knowledge products? Introduction Single-sector examples Cross-sector examples Key definitions and acronyms References iii

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6 About IUCN IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN s work focuses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. IUCN is the world s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more than 1,200 government and NGO Members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN s work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 50 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. About WBCSD The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a CEO-led organization of forward-thinking companies that galvanizes the global business community to create a sustainable future for business, society and the environment. Together with its members, the Council applies its respected thought leadership and effective advocacy to generate constructive solutions and take shared action. Leveraging its strong relationships with stakeholders as the leading advocate for business, the Council helps drive debate and policy change in favour of sustainable development solutions. The WBCSD provides a forum for its 200 member companies who represent all business sectors, all continents and a combined revenue of more than US$ 7 trillion to share best practices on sustainable development issues and to develop innovative tools that change the status quo. The Council also benefits from a network of 60 national and regional business councils and partner organizations, a majority of which are based in developing countries. After decades of working together, in 2013 the WBCSD became a Member of IUCN. This was a milestone in terms of enhanced collaboration and business engagement, allowing for scaled-up solutions on the way to achieving IUCN s Vision: a just world that values and conserves nature. v

7 Biodiversity for Business: A guide to using knowledge products delivered through IUCN Acknowledgements This guide was developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in close collaboration with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and its member companies. We are very grateful to the following people for their time, advice and help in completing this work: Deviah Aima (IUCN), Violeta Barrios (IUCN), Ed Barrow (IUCN), Mathew Bateson (Rio Tinto), Leon Bennun (BirdLife International), Violaine Berger (WBCSD), Maria Ana Borges (IUCN), Thomas Brooks (IUCN), Ellen Brown (Proforest), Gerard Bos (IUCN), Kaia Boe (IUCN), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Florence Clap (IUCN France), Annabelle Cuttelod (IUCN), Giulia Carbone (IUCN), Roberto Crotti (WEF), Frances Douglas (GE), Nigel Dudley (Equilibrium), Stephen Edwards (IUCN), Lincoln Fishpool (BirdLife International), Laura Fox (Fauna & Flora International), Ana González de Aledo (Votorantim), Bernhard Grunauer (Eon), Paula Guimarães (Portucel Soporcel Group), Frank Hawkins (IUCN), Craig Hilton-Taylor (IUCN), Mike Hoffmann (IUCN), Jon Hutton (UNEP-WCMC), David Hughell (Rainforest Alliance), Richard Jenkins (IUCN), Matt Jones (UNEP-WCMC), Mikkel Kallesoe (Shell), Rashila Kerai (Holcim), Naomi Kingston (UNEP-WCMC), Katja Kriege (GRI), Penny Langhammer (Arizona State University), Anna Lyons (Fauna & Flora International), Nadine McCormick (IUCN), Jeff Milder (Rainforest Alliance), Rebecca Miller (IUCN), Tina Miranda-Oliveira (Provita), Maria Estela Nucci (Eni), John Pilgrim (The Biodiversity Consultancy), Duncan Pollard (Nestle), Hugo Rainey (The Biodiversity Consultancy), Dawn Rittenhouse (DuPont), Jon Paul Rodriguez (Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas), Conrad Savy (International Finance Corporation), Jane Smart (IUCN), Martin Sneary (IUCN), Melissa Tolley (UNEP-WCMC), Stephen Woodley (IUCN), Eva Zabey (WBCSD). vi

8 Executive Summary Knowledge products for business Biodiversity which includes all life on earth underpins ecosystem services, provides natural resources and constitutes our natural capital. No matter how complex a supply chain or production process is, biodiversity always supports it. If there is no biodiversity, there is no business. Conversely, companies are major players in the wider landscape and as such are responsible for their impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services and how this impact might affect local actors. How can businesses manage these complex interactions and make investments and operations less risky and more efficient? The first requirement is to know where these biodiversity impact-related risks and opportunities lie. For more than five decades, Members, Commissions, the Secretariat and partners of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have been making this information available through what are termed knowledge products. These are platforms or baskets of knowledge that comprise assessments of authoritative biodiversity information supported by standards, guidelines, data, tools, capacity building and tangible products (see section 1.1. for a definition). Knowledge products will not provide businesses with all solutions at all levels but, when combined with other ecological data and surveys, will play a fundamental role in doing so. Knowledge products provided through IUCN are easily accessible but are subject to strict terms and conditions of use (see sections 1.1 and 1.6 for more information). Two examples of globally renowned knowledge products are The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Protected Planet, powered by its underlying database, the World Database on Protected Areas. Although knowledge products are widely recognized and leveraged by conservation organizations, they could also be used more extensively by the private sector, to support sustainability strategies. IUCN has thus chosen to join forces with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) to develop this manual that is specifically targeted at companies, and aims to expand business awareness and understanding on the use of these knowledge platforms. What this guide does The main goal of this guide is to improve understanding and promote more and better use of these knowledge products to inform environmental risks and opportunities in business operations. The aim is to show how knowledge products can help in assessing, valuing, managing and reporting on businesses impacts and dependencies on biodiversity, and in achieving compliance with environmental standards and certification schemes. The guide focuses on four knowledge products: TM The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species which assesses the risk that species will become extinct; Protected Planet (powered by the World Database on Protected Areas) which documents the extent, quality and diversity of protected areas; Key Biodiversity Areas which identifies areas of global significance for biodiversity; The Red List of Ecosystems which assesses the risk that ecosystems will collapse. The first three in this list are already included in numerous environmental standards, safeguard policies and certification schemes, and are used by businesses to inform a range of decisions and to report on their environmental performance (see Part 2 of this guide). The identification of Key Biodiversity Areas, led by many IUCN Members and partner organizations, dates back nearly four decades but is only now being consolidated as a knowledge product. The Red List of Ecosystems is proposed as a new knowledge product, and is as yet underpinned only by pilot datasets. This guide has been developed for business managers, environment department managers and environmental consultants. It will also be useful to a broader audience interested in the knowledge products available through IUCN. It is divided into two parts: vii

9 Biodiversity for Business: A guide to using knowledge products delivered through IUCN Part 1 - The knowledge products Introduction to knowledge products: what they are and why they are relevant to business. Description of each knowledge product through answers to five questions: 1. What does it do? Defines terms, explains the purpose of the knowledge product. 2. How does it work? Describes the framework, the scope and the processes underpinning the knowledge product. 3. What does it produce? Describes the outputs (tools, data, etc.). 4. How can it be used? Summarizes applications for businesses. 5. How can the data be accessed? Provides guidance on where and how to access the information. Part 2 - How have companies been using these knowledge products? Short examples of how the knowledge products have been and are being used by companies in different contexts and sectors. What this guide does not do This guide is not a detailed account of the technical and complex stakeholder processes behind each knowledge product, nor is it a step-by-step technical guide on how to integrate information contained in the knowledge products into companies operations. Rather it aims to provide a general overview of how using these products can assist businesses in their operations. Key Messages In order to assess and manage the risks and opportunities associated with biodiversity management and impact, companies need access to a wide range of ecological data, including geographically referenced biodiversity datasets combined with site surveys. Knowledge products delivered through IUCN play an important role in informing risks and opportunities for business by providing authoritative biodiversity information supported by standards, guidelines, geographically referenced data, and tools. The individual sections for each of the four knowledge products in Part 1 of this guide and the 14 specific examples in Part 2 suggest numerous applications of these knowledge products for the private sector. Some of these are: Identification of sensitive areas during screening processes and baseline surveys, which will highlight areas of high biodiversity value and inform Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs); Support in implementing the mitigation hierarchy (avoidance, minimization, restoration and rehabilitation, and offsets), especially the avoidance phase and the initial stages of offset design; Compliance with environmental standards, certification schemes and biodiversity safeguard policies, such as identification of critical habitats and sustainable production standards (e.g. International Finance Corporation Performance Standard 6, or the Forest Stewardship Council standard); Support for the implementation of companies biodiversity management systems; Providing key information for reporting company s environmental footprint, by following, for example, the Global Reporting Initiative s sustainability reporting guidelines. Developing, producing, maintaining and updating knowledge products through a sustainable financing model is essential, not only to ensure the quality and increase the geographical coverage of the information, but also to keep it up to date and to avoid misinformed decisions that could adversely affect both business and biodiversity. Knowledge products are easily accessible through a number of access points although use by companies is subject to strict terms and conditions (section 1.1. and 1.6). viii

10 Part 1 - The Knowledge Products Part 1 - The Knowledge Products 1.1 Introduction What are knowledge products? The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is unique in that it brings together governments, non-governmental organizations and scientists to work towards a common vision and mission (figure 1), in partnership with businesses and communities. As a science-based organization, IUCN provides a wide range of knowledge to inform society s decisions on how to value and conserve nature equitably. It is through this union, under the mandate of the IUCN Programme 1, that knowledge products are developed, maintained, updated and disseminated. Knowledge products are platforms or baskets of knowledge that comprise assessments of authoritative biodiversity information supported by standards, guidelines, data, tools, capacity-building and tangible products (box 1). They are mobilized by IUCN s Members, Commissions, Secretariat and partners, using networks of experts and strict validation processes. Figure 1 IUCN s Programme delivers a vision and mission shared by Members, Commissions and Secretariat. COMMISSIONS (11,000 EXPERTS) Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM) Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) MEMBERS (1,226 members) 90 States 119 Government > 1,000 NGOs & affiliates Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy (CEESP) World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) Species Survival Commission (SSC) World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) SECRETARIAT (>1,000 staff) Around 50 National and Regional Offices, and Specialist Centres VISION A just world that values and conserves nature MISSION To influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. IUCN PROGRAMME Providing knowledge products Four Business Lines Delivering results on the ground Strengthening policy and governance Engaging and leveraging the union 1 1

11 Developing, producing, maintaining and updating knowledge products requires considerable resources. Currently, these are provided by governments, non-profit organizations, foundations, the private sector and a large network of volunteers. Despite these contributions, the maintenance of these knowledge products is not yet fully resourced. The long-term sustainable financing model for maintaining the knowledge products is fundamentally important, not only to ensure the quality and increase the geographical coverage of the information, but also to keep it up to date and to avoid misinformed decisions that could adversely affect both business and biodiversity. Knowledge products in this guide This guide focuses on four knowledge products that are particularly relevant for business: TM The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species which assesses the risk that species will become extinct; Protected Planet (powered by the World Database on Protected Areas) which documents the extent, quality and diversity of protected areas; Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) which identify areas of global significance for biodiversity; The Red List of Ecosystems which assesses the risk that ecosystems will collapse. The first three products are already included in numerous environmental standards, safeguard policies and certification schemes, and are used by businesses to inform a range of decisions and to report on their environmental performance (see Part 2 of this guide). The identification of Key Biodiversity Areas, led by many IUCN Members and partner organizations, dates back nearly four decades but is only now being consolidated as a knowledge product through IUCN (section 1.4). The Red List of Ecosystems is proposed as a new knowledge product, as yet underpinned only by pilot datasets, but when complete it will contain assessments of the risk that particular ecosystems will collapse (section 1.5). As the IUCN Programme states, in addition to these four knowledge products, IUCN is in the early stages of developing two more: a Human Dependency on Nature Framework and a Natural Resource Governance Framework. Other notable examples of tools already available through IUCN are the environmental law database ECOLEX ( and the Global Invasive Species Database ( database/welcome), which is being linked to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM. Information from the four knowledge products dealt with in this guide can help businesses to manage the risks and opportunities associated with their impact on biodiversity (table 1). In most cases, Box 1 Six common components of knowledge products delivered through IUCN Standards: developed through inclusive international participatory processes involving IUCN Members, Commissions, Secretariat and partners. The standards must meet a recognised conservation need and be scientifically driven, transparent and repeatable. Guidelines: on how to apply the methodology, submit data, or understand the governance processes that underpin each knowledge product. Data: underpinning the information provided by knowledge products, including maps, population estimates, threats to species or ecosystems, boundaries of protected areas, etc. Tools: such as online databases and online mapping tools, to assist a range of users in handling the data delivered by the knowledge products. Capacity building: to promote and ensure more and better use of the products and to avoid risks resulting from misuse. Products: in the form of reports, scientific papers, websites, factsheets, booklets and policy briefs. 2

12 Part 1 - The Knowledge Products knowledge products alone will not provide all the answers at all levels. Especially at site level, they will need to be combined either with additional ecological data and tools or with other knowledge products. For example, The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM will provide information about threatened species that might be found in the area where a company is operating or plans to operate. However, surveys at site scale, usually carried out by local biodiversity experts, will be needed to confirm the presence and abundance of those particular species at the site. Use of the knowledge products by businesses As with any kind of publicly available biodiversity information, use of these knowledge products is governed by strict terms and conditions. Use by or on behalf of companies is classed as commercial use (see definition) which means that to use the information previous agreement with data providers Table 1 - How knowledge products can help businesses manage risks (R) and opportunities (O)? 2 Operational Day-to-day company activities, spending and processes Regulatory and Legal Influence of government policies and laws Reputational Company brand, image and relationships with stakeholders Market and Product Product and service offerings, customer preferences and other market factors Financing Cost and availability of capital to companies R- Biodiversity information can inform operational risks related to biodiversity impact (e.g. through Environmental and Social Impact Assessments or Biodiversity Action Plans). O- Mainstreaming biodiversity information and monitoring biodiversity impacts across company operations can reduce overall project costs. R- Knowledge products can raise early warning flags about the potential presence of threatened species, protected areas or areas of high biodiversity value near or within a proposed project area. O- Companies can improve their legal and regulatory compliance by adopting different practices in or near protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value. R- Companies can avoid risks to their reputations by considering potential harmful impacts on species, protected areas, ecosystems and areas of high biodiversity value when screening projects. O- Companies can improve their reputations and secure licences to operate by putting in place mechanisms to minimize biodiversity impact or by playing an active role in nature conservation activities and projects. R- Companies can anticipate changes in consumer preferences and forestall damage to their brand image by considering their potential impacts on species, protected areas, ecosystems and areas of high biodiversity value. O- New markets for sustainably sourced products and environmentally friendly production can open up to companies that take on board the information provided by knowledge products in order to comply with certification schemes and standards. R- Use of knowledge products is fundamental for ensuring compliance with banks safeguard policies for project financing, which explicitly mention them. O- Companies can secure more favourable loan terms by reporting their impacts and dependencies on biodiversity and ecosystems, and integrating that information into company policies and procedures. 2 Hanson et al.,

13 Biodiversity for Business: A guide to using knowledge products delivered through IUCN is required. Section 1.6 provides guidance on how to access the data and information delivered by knowledge products. Knowledge products delivered through IUCN can be and in fact have been used by the private sector in a number of important contexts related to environmental risk and biodiversity impact management (box 2). The mitigation hierarchy is perhaps one the most accepted frameworks and is considered a best-practice approach to biodiversity risk management. It focuses on management for specific outcomes rather than on generic processes. However, the mitigation hierarchy does not include other important business activities such as global reporting or compliance with standards, certification schemes and safeguard policies. Due to its relevance and uptake in the sector, the mitigation hierarchy is explained in detail in box 3 and examples included in this guide also feature one or more of the mitigation hierarchy phases. Definition What is commercial use? The definition of commercial use with respect to the knowledge products is: a) use by any individual or non-profit entity for the purposes of revenue generation or b) any use by, on behalf of, or to inform or assist the activities of an entity that operates for profit. This definition is consistent with the classification of knowledge products as global public goods. Global public goods are non-rival (use by one party does not reduce their availability to others) and non-excludable (their use is available to all globally). 3 Knowledge products delivered through IUCN are regarded as global public goods. Box 2 Key applications of knowledge products Identification of sensitive areas during screening processes and baseline surveys: Knowledge products provide fundamental information for conducting Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and identifying areas of potential biodiversity impact. Application of the mitigation hierarchy: Knowledge products support the implementation of the mitigation hierarchy (avoidance, minimization, restoration and rehabilitation, and offsets), especially the avoidance phase and the initial stages of offset design. Compliance with environmental standards, certification schemes and biodiversity safeguard policies: Knowledge products support and ensure compliance in situations that sometimes explicitly require their use (e.g. in the identification of critical habitats). Implementation of companies biodiversity management systems: Knowledge products can be used to inform biodiversity strategies and monitor and improve resource allocation for Biodiversity Action Plans or Catchment Management Plans. Valuation of ecosystem services: Knowledge products can be used to place a value on the services that may be lost if species or ecosystems are adversely affected, or on the benefits that may accrue from biodiversity and ecosystems management. Valuation can also help in natural capital accounting to evaluate trade-offs in biodiversity management scenarios. Communications and biodiversity awareness raising: Knowledge products enhance knowledge of biodiversity issues through capacity building at specific sites or corporate levels. 3 Kaul et al.,

14 Part 1 - The Knowledge Products Box 3 The Mitigation Hierarchy The mitigation hierarchy is a framework that enables businesses to manage environmental impacts across different phases of a particular project cycle. The mitigation hierarchy includes the following sequential actions: Avoidance: measures taken to avoid creating impacts from the outset, such as careful spatial or temporal placement of infrastructure elements to prevent any impact on certain components of biodiversity; Minimization: measures taken to reduce the duration, intensity and/or extent of impacts (including direct, indirect and cumulative impacts, as appropriate) that cannot be completely avoided, as far as is practically feasible; Rehabilitation/restoration: measures taken to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems or restore cleared ecosystems following exposure to impacts that cannot be completely avoided or minimized, in order to achieve no net loss or a net gain of biodiversity; Offset: measures taken to compensate, in a like-for-like (or better) fashion, for any residual significant adverse impacts that cannot be avoided or minimized, in order to achieve no net loss or a net gain of biodiversity. Source: Adapted from ICMM & IUCN, 2012 The steps in the mitigation hierarchy are likely to overlap during the life of a project. For example, restoration and rehabilitation efforts might occur while offsetting activities are being implemented. In any case, rehabilitation/restoration and biodiversity offsets should only be considered as a last option after a company has implemented the other steps in the mitigation hierarchy. In addition, it is critical to be aware that rehabilitation/restoration and biodiversity offsets are not always possible. Not all impacts on biodiversity can be compensated for and some biodiversity features, because of their high value either for biodiversity or for people (or both), are simply not offsetable. 4 The mitigation hierarchy is a valid framework for companies to adopt to achieve No Net Loss (NNL) or Net Positive Impact (NPI) at the end of a project cycle. NNL implies no biodiversity losses whereas NPI corresponds to a gain in biodiversity. Notable examples of endeavours to implement the NPI framework are two pioneering projects by Rio Tinto in Madagascar and Mongolia, which are described in example 7, page 27. Supporting Conservation Actions (SCAs): Compensation actions that cannot be counted as offsets may be considered supporting conservation actions or additional conservation actions. They cannot be included in metrics to assess offsets or measure progress towards NNL or NPI, although they can still be beneficial for biodiversity. Examples might be environmental education or support for research on data-deficient ecosystems. 4 For more information about offset definitions and design and key challenges when implementing offsets, see ICMM & IUCN, 2012; Gardner et al., 2013; Pilgrim et al., 2013; and BBOP case studies ( 5

15 Biodiversity for Business: A guide to using knowledge products delivered through IUCN 1.2 The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM What does it do? The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM provides assessments of the risk that species will become extinct in order to inform and catalyse action for biodiversity conservation. How does it work? The risk of extinction of a particular species is assessed through the application of a standardized risk assessment methodology. 5 Five criteria (A to E - figure 2) are applied to each species and at a specific scale. Species are then assigned to one of eight Red List categories according to whether they meet the quantitative thresholds under at least one of the five criteria. Assessments are undertaken by a wide network of experts and scientists around the world, convened through the IUCN s Species Survival Commission or engaged through IUCN s partner organizations, who compile the best available information to assess the extinction risk of a species. An independent review process precedes Definition What are threatened species according to IUCN? These are species categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable by The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM. Not all species on the list are threatened: some may be common (e.g. some of those listed as Least Concern), while others may already be Extinct. Inclusion of a species on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM does not necessarily mean that it should be a priority for any particular kind of conservation action, or that legal regulations automatically apply to it in any country or region. Setting priorities and introducing regulations are subsequent stakeholder decisions, which should be informed by an understanding of extinction risk along with other factors. Figure 2 - Assessment criteria and risk categories used by The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM Criteria Categories A. Population reduction B. Restricted geographic range and decline C. Small population size and decline D. Very small or restricted population Thresholds E. Quantitative risk analysis 5 IUCN, 2012 and Mace et al.,

16 Part 1 - The Knowledge Products publication on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM focuses on global assessments of the extinction risk for animal, plant and fungi species. The methodology can also be applied at regional or national levels (subglobal scale). This means that a species may not be threatened at a global level but may be highly threatened at a national level, or (unusually) vice versa. IUCN provides guidelines in support of such sub-global assessments, but does not usually endorse them. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM is a joint effort between IUCN and a number of Red List Partners: currently BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International; Microsoft; NatureServe; the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; Wildscreen; and the Zoological Society of London. What does it produce? The key outputs from any IUCN Red List assessment are an assigned Red List Category, a georeferenced map of the species distribution, and supporting information on the species population, ecology, Info Understanding The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM distribution maps Each species assessment includes a map showing the known distribution range of the species. However, depending on the information available, maps can vary greatly in their resolution and accuracy. For this reason, maps cannot be used to confirm the presence of a species at a particular site unless the distribution range of the species falls entirely within the site or is confirmed by the existence of a Key Biodiversity Area for which the species has qualified (section 1.4). Background: The Venezuelan Fish-eating Rat (Neusticomys venezuelae) is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM due to population decline and restricted populations. It is a habitat specialist (dependent on clear streams), known only from Venezuela and Guyana, and is estimated to be declining rapidly due to overexploitation, shrinkage in distribution, and habitat destruction and degradation. 6 6 Ochoa and Rivas

17 Biodiversity for Business: A guide to using knowledge products delivered through IUCN threats and conservation actions that need to be put in place to reduce this risk of extinction. All these are available at: How can it be used? Identification of sensitive areas during screening processes and baseline surveys: The Red List highlights species that are potentially present and require confirmation during baseline surveys for Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs). Shell has used the data for this purpose, as example 6 (page 26) shows. Application of the mitigation hierarchy: When species are confirmed to occur at a site and impacts cannot be avoided, information in the species assessments can be used to identify key threats to be minimized or to decide which species may require Biodiversity Action Plans or habitat restoration plans. For offset design, the distribution ranges of species can contribute to biodiversity offset measurement. Example 7 (page 27) describes how Rio Tinto has used The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM to inform application of the mitigation hierarchy. Supporting conservation actions (SCAs): IUCN Red List assessments provide information on the conservation actions needed, including options for SCAs such as research on Data Deficient species to assess their extinction risk. Compliance with environmental standards, certification schemes and biodiversity safeguard policies: The Forest Stewardship Council or the Responsible Jewellery Council standards (example 12, page 32, and example 14, page 36), for instance, require consideration of threatened species for compliance. The IUCN Red List is also relevant for the implementation of safeguard policies to identify critical habitats (example 8, page 28). Valuation of ecosystem services: By focusing on assessed species (for which supporting documentation is available on use, livelihoods and ecosystem services), companies can place a value on the services that may be lost if the species in question becomes extinct, or on the benefits that may accrue from good species management. Reporting a company s environmental footprint: The Global Reporting Initiative biodiversity indicator G4-EN14 is based on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM (example 13, page 34). How can the data be accessed? The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM is subject to terms and conditions of use (www. iucnredlist.org/info/terms-of-use). For commercial use it can be accessed directly through the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) at Joaquim Pedro Ferreira, Portucel Soporcel Group 8

18 Part 1 - The Knowledge Products 1.3 Protected Planet (powered by the World Database on Protected Areas) What does it do? Protected Planet is an initiative that documents the status, extent, diversity and quality of the world s protected areas. Its underlying database is the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), which is the only global inventory of protected areas; it includes the United Nations List of Protected Areas, which is mandated by the United Nations. How does it work? Protected Planet, a joint initiative between IUCN and UNEP, is managed by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). Governments collect and submit information to WDPA managers to maintain the accuracy of the UN List of Protected Areas dataset. Additional data provid- Definition What is a protected area? IUCN defines a protected area as A clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values. 7 All protected areas submitted to the World Database on Protected Areas should comply with this definition. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) also uses a definition of protected areas which is equivalent to IUCN s definition. 8 Figure 3 - Sources of information and key requirements for Protected Planet Non-governmental organizations Regional data providers International secretariats Data Providers Local authorities and experts National data providers World Commission on Protected Areas Word Database on Protected Areas Validation Key requirements for data providers (compulsory) Protected areas should fit the IUCN definition. Georeferenced information of the protected area s location should be given. Data must comply with the WDPA data standard and include the minimum required attributes. Source of information for the data must be provided. IUCN Protected Area Management Categories (recommended but not compulsory) Ia Strict nature reserve Ib Wilderness area II National park III Natural monument or feature IV Habitat/species management area V Protected landscape/seascape VI Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources 7 Dudley, Lopoukhine and Ferreira de Souza Dias, 2012: 9

19 Biodiversity for Business: A guide to using knowledge products delivered through IUCN ed by non-governmental organizations form part of the WDPA dataset, although they are not included on the UN List of Protected Areas. Data providers must comply with a number of key requirements that ensure the consistency and accuracy of the data in the WDPA (figure 3). Finally, the WDPA data can be accessed through the Protected Planet website ( Protected Planet has global coverage. It includes areas protected nationally (e.g. national parks) and regionally (e.g. Natura 2000 sites), as well as areas designated by countries under international conventions and agreements (e.g. UNESCO World Heritage Natural sites and Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance). For some areas, Protected Planet also includes their classification under the IUCN protected area management categories (figure 3). These class protected areas according to their management objectives. Although it is best practice to do so, countries or territories are not obliged to use the IUCN categories. There are six categories, from I (strict nature reserve) to VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources). Since this scale reflects management and not conservation priorities, Category I areas are more strictly protected than Category VI, but not necessarily more important for biodiversity. 9 What does it produce? Protected Planet produces net, which is a tool for displaying, mapping and Info Understanding Protected Planet maps The map shows the protected area boundaries as submitted by the data provider so business and other users can see where their current or planned activities lie in relation to protected areas. If there are no boundaries available for a particular protected area, a geographically referenced point is provided. Each mapped protected area has a unique WDPA identifier that links the georeferenced maps with the tabular information required by the WDPA data standard (figure 3). Background: Canaima National Park is a World Heritage site of over 3 million hectares located in south eastern Venezuela. It is classed as Category II National Park - according to the IUCN Protected Area Management categories For more information on IUCN Protected Area Management Categories, see Dudley et al., IUCN and UNEP-WCMC

20 Part 1 - The Knowledge Products Diego Juffe-Bignoli contributing information on protected areas. It presents spatial data and descriptive information from the WDPA as well as images and information overlays from other external sources. More importantly, the Protected Planet initiative also produces reports on the status and global trends of protected areas. 11 How can it be used? Identification of sensitive areas during screening processes and baseline surveys: This knowledge product can be used to show where project sites, operations and supply chains are located in relation to protected areas; as legal entities, protected areas are socially and politically sensitive. Design of offsets: Biodiversity offsets could readress shortfalls in the management of many protected areas. However, this may be seen as failing to provide additionality and thus not fulfilling the requirement that offsets deliver No Net Loss/Net Positive Impact on biodiversity (box 3, page 5). Supporting conservation actions: it can inform measures to enhance the management of protected areas, promote the sustainable use of natural resources and environmentally friendly, locally managed businesses in or near protected areas. Example 2 (page 22) in this guide shows how The Rainforest Alliance has incorporated protected area boundaries in GPS-enabled mobile devices to promote sustainable agriculture near protected areas. Compliance with environmental standards, certification schemes and biodiversity safeguard policies: Compliance with most standards and certification schemes requires businesses to consider and evaluate their impacts on protected areas. Protected areas information is used to identify critical habitats in most financial institutions safeguard policies (example 8, page 28; example 12, page 32; and example 14, page 36). Valuation of ecosystem services: A value can be placed on the services that the establishment and management of protected areas provides to local and neighbouring communities. Reporting a company s environmental footprint: The Global Reporting Initiative biodiversity indicators G4-EN11, G4-EN12 and G4-EN13 use this knowledge product (example 13, page 34). How can the data be accessed? Protected Planet data are subject to terms and conditions of use ( termsandconditions). For commercial use Protected Planet can be accessed directly through the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) at or by joining the Proteus Partnership at For more information see section 1.6 in this report. 11 Bertzky et al.,

21 Biodiversity for Business: A guide to using knowledge products delivered through IUCN 1.4 Key Biodiversity Areas What does it do? The Key Biodiversity Areas standard supports the identification, delineation and documentation of sites of global significance for biodiversity. How does it work? KBAs are identified at a national level by applying a set of scientific criteria and numerical thresholds (figure 4). The biodiversity features that meet (or trigger) the criteria have to be confirmed in the area, and the site boundaries have to be clearly defined. The biodiversity features meeting KBA criteria are not necessarily under threat as the KBA criteria do not only take threatened biodiversity into account (figure 4). The Key Biodiversity Areas methodology looks at all levels of biodiversity (ecosystems, Definition What are Key Biodiversity Areas? Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are sites that contribute significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity. These are sites with geographically defined boundaries that hold biodiversity (ecosystems, species or genes) of international significance. KBAs are endorsed by conservation organizations but do not necessarily have legal designation for any particular kind of land use (e.g. they are not necessarily Protected Areas). Figure 4 - How are Key Biodiversity Areas identified? Apply the criteria and thresholds A. Threatened biodiversity B. Geographically restricted biodiversity C. Outstanding ecological integrity D. Outstanding biological processes Example of meeting the KBA criteria The Javan Rhinoceros, Rhinoceros sondaicus, is a globally threatened species listed by IUCN as Critically Endangered. Its last population is found in Indonesia in the Ujung Kulon National park on Java Island. Its presence will qualify that site as a KBA under criterion A. Set the boundaries KBA boundaries are delineated through consultation involving local experts in a two step process: 1. the biological features that meet the criteria are mapped; 2. relevant aspects of the socio-economic context (e.g. land tenure, political boundaries) may be taken into account to improve potential manageability Examples of delineation A KBA contained within a legally protected area may adopt the protected areas boundaries. Mount Nimba, which is intersected by Guinea, Côte d Ivoire, and Liberia, was identified as three separate KBAs, one per country, to allow for management by each nation. Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) Some examples of already identified KBAs Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) Identified by BirdLife International ( Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) sites identified by the AZE partnership ( Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas identified by IUCN ( 12

22 Part 1 - The Knowledge Products species and genes) and is applicable across biomes (freshwater, terrestrial and marine). Although mainly applied through national-level processes, the standard identifies sites of global importance. Key Biodiversity Areas are an overarching framework. 12 Starting over three decades ago, BirdLife International pioneered the identification of KBAs for birds in the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) programme. Other significant sets of KBAs have been identified by the Alliance for Zero Extinction (focusing on sites which hold the last remaining populations of highly threatened species), and by IUCN for freshwater sites. The KBA standard provides a common framework to harmonize these and other similar approaches globally and to support the identification of KBAs under a globally agreed methodology. 13 What does it produce? In addition to spatial data (in the georeferenced map of the site), the Key Biodiversity Areas approach Info Understanding Key Biodiversity Area maps A KBA map shows the boundaries of a site that makes a significant contribution to the global persistence of biodiversity. There is no minimum size for a KBA as boundaries are delineated in consultation with relevant stakeholders by using ecological criteria and are refined for manageability by using data on land tenure and land use. In some cases, KBA boundaries may overlap or coincide with protected area boundaries. Businesses can use KBAs maps to identify areas of high risk of biodiversity impact or to select potential sites for implementing the mitigation hierarchy (box 3). Background: Caruachi is a Key Biodiversity Area classified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area and an Alliance for Zero Extinction site located in south eastern Venezuela. 14 It meets the criteria A (Threatened Biodiversity) as it holds at least 95% of the known population of Carrizal Seedeater (Amaurospiza carrizalensis), a Critically Endangered species according to the IUCN Categories and Criteria. This KBA does not overlap with any protected area Langhammer et al To know more about the development of the new KBA standard please see: 14 BirdLife International BirdLife International

23 Biodiversity for Business: A guide to using knowledge products delivered through IUCN provides associated information such as the name of the site, a list of the ecosystem, species or genetic biodiversity for which the site was identified as important, and the rationale for its delineation. How can it be used? Identification of sensitive areas during screening processes and baseline surveys: This knowledge product can be used to show where existing or future project sites, operations and supply chains are located in relation to Key Biodiversity Areas (example 4, page 24). Minimization of impacts on biodiversity: Measures and plans may be designed to minimize impacts on KBAs in or near a concession or across a supply chain by focusing on specific biodiversity features for which that KBA was identified. Rehabilitation and restoration programmes: This information may be used to prioritize actions or design programmes in or near a KBA, focusing on specific biodiversity features for which the KBA was identified. Design of offsets: Potential locations for offsets could be identified by weighing the biodiversity features that could be safeguarded in a KBA against the biodiversity features to be impacted by a given development. Supporting conservation actions: KBAs could be valuable targets for activities such as environmental education, while candidate KBAs would benefit greatly from additional conservation actions in the form of scientific research. Compliance with environmental standards, certification schemes and biodiversity safeguard policies: Compliance with these, require consideration of impacts on areas of high biodiversity value such as KBAs. KBAs also provide relevant input for the identification of critical habitats in most financial institutions safeguard policies (examples 9, 12 and 14 in pages 29, 32 and 36). Valuation of ecosystem services: Companies can place a value on the ecosystem services that may be lost if the biodiversity value of a site is adversely affected by their operations. Tools such as TESSA, 16 which enables the identification of which ecosystem services may be important at a site, are particularly appropriate for supporting such valuation. Reporting a company s environmental footprint: KBAs can inform reporting on Global Reporting Initiative biodiversity indicators G4-EN11 and G4-EN12 (example 13, page 34). How can the data be accessed? Key Biodiversity Areas are subject to terms and conditions of use available from the data providers websites. For commercial use the data can be accessed through the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) at (section 1.6). Diego Juffe-Bignoli 16 Peh et al.,